CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
Hannuwa
Conservation and sustainability are at the heart of everything we do.
We practice hannuwa; the gathering of good fortune through living in sustainable harmony with our natural environment, according to the ancient /Xam San philosophy.
You contribute by simply enjoying food, wines and exceptional experiences.
WWF Conservation Champion
World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has awarded Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate the top award for excellence. It is for exceptional commitment to the collective conservation of threatened habitat in South Africa’s Succulent Karoo and the Cape Floral Kingdom as well as for outstanding dedication to environmentally responsible farming practices.
Benguela Cove is a family-run business; Penny Streeter OBE bought the estate in 2013 and has brought her considerable entrepreneurial abilities and love of the unique oceanside location, to create an award-winning wine brand that has won plaudits from many of the top international panel judges, as well as recognition as a renowned eco-tourism destination.
Partnership with the Cape Leopard Trust
Benguela Cove is a WWF Conservation Champion. As such, we are delighted to announce the installation of a wildlife camera in collaboration with The Cape Leopard Trust.
The enigmatic Leopard is used as an icon to advocate for the protection of predators in their natural environments. The aim of our collaboration is to raise awareness of broader biodiversity issues and to affirm our commitment to the conservation of local ecosystems. The footage captured will be shared on our website and socials, so do keep an eye out.
The animals we expect to see are mostly nocturnal, including hares, tortoises, porcupines, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, caracals, small bucks, snakes etc.
iNaturalist and Benguela Cove
Another exciting development in our conservation story is Benguela Cove’s project with iNaturalist.
iNaturalist is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. In essence, it is a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe.
How can you get involved?
Pictures taken by the homeowners, villa guests or day visitors can be uploaded and shared on the iNaturalist app. Thereby actively contributing to the understanding of where plants, animals and fungi occur as well as pin-pointing invasive or threatened species in and around our immediate area. Have a look at their website or download the app to sign up and get involved.
BirdLife and Benguela Cove
Explore the world of Birding – Birdlife South Africa
Benguela Cove is a BirdLife South Africa Recommended Accommodation. Located in the beautiful Western Cape province, this eco-friendly destination offers stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts alike. With luxurious accommodations and activities such as birdwatching, hiking, and wine tastings, it's the perfect place to relax and reconnect with nature.
Birdlife & their company mission:
As a registered non-profit and public benefit entity, BirdLife has a primary mission to prevent bird species from extinction and enhance the conservation status of avian biodiversity.
Together, we aim to protect and support the diverse avian species that inhabit our beautiful estate.
Did you know that Birders can now book overnight accommodation?
Visit the Birdlife Conservation website today to get involved and make a difference!
OUR SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES
Committed to doing good
Benguela Cove is committed to the standards recommended by Wines of South Africa (WoSA) and its Sustainable Wine South Africa (SWSA) programme.
We are committed to the WOSA #Hannuwa initiative:
To farm sustainably.
To be a custodian of the land and preserve it for future generations.
To nurture a culture of respect among the people who work with us on our farms and in our cellars.
To promote an environment of dignity, equality and upliftment for all.
To protect the unique and valuable biodiversity of our Winelands.
To safeguard the rich heritage of South Africa’s winelands.
Sustainable farming practices that we apply at Benguela Cove include:
Farming under the strict guidelines of the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW). This ensures that we farm with environmentally friendly methods and without any harmful pesticides or chemicals. All sprays are applied under the instruction of relevant specialists, to ensure we use only the most friendly products where possible and adhere to all safety protocols.
We operate a weather station on the farm to micro-manage our programmes. It gives Downey Mildew and Oidium pressure indicators, which allow us to plan vineyard sprays according to disease pressure and avoid unnecessary treatment.
We make use of Biological control agents to eliminate Mealy Bug, which is the vector of the roller leaf virus.
No usage of any harsh insecticides or Organophosphates.
Use drone images, as well as satellite images to determine stress areas in vineyards, to attend to these areas and adapt irrigation and fertiliser programs.
Straw and organic mulching on stress vines, young vines and areas that we need to improve the water retention capacity of the soil.
Slow-releasing fertilisers, to avoid contamination of natural water sources with uncontrolled release of nutrients.
Cover crops to improve organic material status in the soil; suppress weed growth and reduce the usage of herbicide; increase water infiltration and better moisture retention; limit runoff and evaporation to benefit water supplies.
Owl boxes are used to control rodents without any chemicals.
The 200-hectare farm is home to one of South Africa’s most ecological and beautiful residential and wine estates, set within a protected nature reserve. The location in UNESCO designated Kogelberg Biosphere ensures that the natural beauty surrounding the estate is protected forever. It has one of the most diverse floral communities on the planet, with 1,880 floral species over 100,000 hectares as well as biologically diverse marine communities. The 70-hectare planting of vineyards frames this beautiful estate, and conservation and protection are the priority, with many measures that visitors can see, such as the use of ducks that in the summer help to keep the snails and other pests at bay.
The estate is home to 100 species of birds including owls, Blue Cranes, Guinea Fowl and flamingos within its protected reserves and vast wetlands. Small bucks, mountain leopards and wild horses also make appearances on the estate.
Our philosophy is to ensure the preservation and improvement of this estate for future generations tomorrow - and for our visitors, staff and local community today.
How can you contribute - by simply enjoying delicious food, special wines and exceptional experiences?
Visit Benguela Cove Wine Estate and enjoy fun things to do and see for guests of all ages beyond just wine tasting.
Benguela Cove is a family-owned and run wine destination. And we do everything here with a sense of hannuwa; the gathering of good fortune through living in sustainable harmony with our natural environment, according to the ancient /Xam San philosophy.
